In the 1820s the place was called Latimer's Corners after the innkeeper, and later Springfield.

The present name derives from Newton, after one of the Newtowns in Ireland and Robinson for William Benjamin Robinson, the area's political representative from 1828 to 1858.

Newton is the most common place name in Britain, from whence came so many Canadian place names. There are more than 30 Newtons in Britain, and with inclusion in a longer name, the total would be well over 100.

It is interesting - and ironic -that of the three names of places in Ontario containing Newton, none has a British attribution.